Building a Garage Storage Wall

Got a lot of stuff in your garage and no way to organize it? This article will show you how to build simple and inexpensive shelving to hold plastic storage containers that will organize your garage in one day.

Overview

Before Joe's garage organization project

After Joe's garage organization project

I.D. bins the smart way.

Think about how you'd like to identify the contents
of each storage bin. Some people use adhesive
labels or write with markers directly on the bins.
The best system lets you make changes easily. We
like the adhesive storage pouches that come with cardboard inserts (or you can
just use index cards). Changing the label is as easy as slipping a new card into the
pouch.

Clearly labeled bin

Joe is the set carpenter for The Family Handyman magazine.
He's also a husband,
new father, dog owner,
hunter, pinball wizard,
pool shark, fisherman and
the proud owner of a brand
new garage, which he built
himself. But Joe had a problem—
he's got a lot of stuff,
and he needed a way to
organize it fast (because
he'd rather be hunting!).
But he has almost no time
(see the above list for why)
and almost no cash (babies
and garages don't come
cheap). So Joe's quick,
easy-on-the-wallet solution
was to build simple shelves
that could hold plastic storage
bins. He built the
whole project in less than a
day, and it cost him $300
for 26 ft. of shelving (the
bins were extra). His wife
thinks he's a genius and so
do we. (Joe's just happy he
can go hunting.)

Put the frame together

Photo 2: Assemble the frames

Working on top of a sheet of plywood helps keep each frame
squared up. Use the edges of the plywood to line up and adjust
things as you screw the frame together. It also really helps to pick
the straightest lumber possible when you're shopping.

Keep things square by assembling the frame on top of a piece of plywood.

Install the shelves

Photo 3: Screw on the shelves

Installing the shelves in each frame is a lot easier if you have a
helper to hold the frames. If you're working alone, lean one of the
frames against the wall and hold up the other frame while you
screw the first shelf into place.

Screw the unit to the wall

Photo 4: Fasten the shelves to the wall

Screw each unit to the wall through the top rail using construction screws (GRK is one brand) spaced every second or third stud.
This shelf unit is really sturdy. But make it ultra secure by screwing
the units together through the front legs. Shim the legs if your floor
is sloped or uneven.

Screw the unit to the wall through the top rail every second or third stud to make it very stable.

Install the middle cleats for the sliding bins

Photo 5: Install cleats for slide-out bins

To avoid stacking the small bins on top of one another, hang the
top bins from cleats. Installing the cleats goes really fast if you
start your screws in each cleat first and then use a spacer to mark
the cleat's location as you screw it on.

Hanging the bins from cleats means you don't have to stack them on top of each other and you can easily slide them in and out.

Joe's Tips

Each storage unit is basically two frames tied together with plywood
shelves. Buy your bins first so you can
customize the height and depth of each
shelf space. Remember to leave enough
clearance space in front of your shelving units to open your car doors.

Small bins are great for storing screws, glue and painting supplies
in the middle bays of each unit. The best
bins for hanging are those with snap-
lock lids. They allow you to hang
heavier loads without worrying that
the lid will come off.

The fussiest measurements are those for the center bay of smaller bins. If your width measurements are off by a quarter inch, the bins won't sit squarely between the cleats or will be too tight to slide easily.

If your garage floor sometimes gets
wet, nail plastic feet to the bottom of the legs. (A set of four nail-on plastic feet costs $3 at home centers.)

You can paint the wood to give it
a classy look or leave it bare.
Painting it before you put it together is a lot easier than painting it once
it's assembled.